My three freshwater tanks

yeah I think I'm going to do dirt and white sand in my next project, a 75g. thanks for the info, your tanks look great.

 

I liked the earlier look on the 20 gallon. It had a clean, simple feel to it. But I still enjoy your pictures!

Yeah, I am having a bit of trouble finding a layout for the plants. Between the tank being visible from three sides and the 3 amazon swords I haven't come up with much. There is a very good chance all of the plants, except the swords and moss wall, will be going into the new 29 gallon I have.

yeah I think I'm going to do dirt and white sand in my next project, a 75g. thanks for the info, your tanks look great.

It would look good on a larger scale and do nice work with your layouts, so I bet it will look good. I wish I had some plant substrate under the sand, it would be much easier to grow root feeders. Thanks .

 

I like them all! Beautifully done. I especially like the 29g, the wisteria spread out like that looks really cool and imo a good amount of plants, plenty of room for the fish, you're doing well at not letting the plant addiction totally take over your tanks.

I like the hornwort but since I started growing it a month or so ago I've thrown out more than I have in my tanks, I like how you just have the one healthy stalk.

They all look very squared away, nice work. Btw, How different is purple cobomba care wise from furcata? I want some!

 

It's always a work in progress, right? That's what makes it fun!

 

I like them all! Beautifully done. I especially like the 29g, the wisteria spread out like that looks really cool and imo a good amount of plants, plenty of room for the fish, you're doing well at not letting the plant addiction totally take over your tanks.

I like the hornwort but since I started growing it a month or so ago I've thrown out more than I have in my tanks, I like how you just have the one healthy stalk.

They all look very squared away, nice work. Btw, How different is purple cobomba care wise from furcata? I want some!

Thank you very much! The wisteria seems to comfort the neon tetras and gives them a place to sleep at night. I tried keeping it bunched, but the light is really low at that level. Honestly I am surprised it is doing so well. Trust me, if I had the proper lighting the plant addiction would probably spread lol.

Wow, that is a lot of hornwort to throw out. Do you have any LFS that will give you store credit for it? I have heard that it grows quickly, and now I am seeing it firsthand. So, as long as I don't kill it, I am sure I will have just as much.

The 10 and 29 gallon are pretty much done with other than maintenance and enjoyment. The 20 gallon will probably change again in some way, it seems to be a bi-weekly thing lol. I have never had the furcata, but from what I am seeing (other than that I want it now) the furcata needs more light to grow, but the other requirements are similar. I am not sure if it is the iron dosing change I made or light difference, but the purple doesn't really show heavily till it gets closer to the surface. Down low it is a dark green and deep purple mix. Anyway, it has been pretty easy to care for so far. I didn't even have a die off when I put it in the tank.

It's always a work in progress, right? That's what makes it fun!

Exactly, if I didn't keep changing something I would probably try to buy another tank . Has anyone come up with MTS anonymous (abbreviated MTSA )?

 

That's good news for me, my furcata didn't die off when I put it in and it's pretty steadily growing about 3+ inches a week, it also only gets red on the top portions so far for me. I think I'm going to have to get some purple! Thanks for the enabling!

For the hornwort, it was so cheap I just keep throwing the trimmings in my pond, I've got a basketball sized wad in there now. I am seriously not exaggerating when I say it will grow 3" a day in my tanks with no co2, just leafzone and comp. So, I don't really try to save it, if I ever want some for another tank or a buddy I can just wait a couple of days.

I almost like it better when I had really weak lights on my tanks, it felt like everything was going slowly and I could tweak things at a slower pace, accomodating my plant inexperience.

 

From the looks of the furcata, the purple cabomba would add a nice variation of color combined with it. Let me know if you need me to be an enabler for anything else .

It took me a second to think out how much hornwort it would be for a basketball size, and that would be a lot. This makes me glad I decided to not put it in the 20 gallon. It would probably take over the whole tank in no time. As much as 3" a day of growth would be great in a lot of other plants, I bet it would be a nuisance with hornwort. At least you have a pond to put them in so they still get to grow.

Slow growth is nice in some cases, but there is definitely less time to learn with moderate to high light. I found that out the hard way when BBA took over, at least the plants where saved by growing them emersed. I'm still inexperienced when it comes to plants, but that adds to the fun . A lot of the high light plants are amazing looking, so I doubt I will downgrade in that department.

 

I can't get enough of your tanks. They're awesome.

So the netted balls are riccia, right?

 

Thank you . Yes, the netted bio balls are riccia, I think dwarf riccia specifically.

 

I have one word for you: *envy*

Nice Job!

 

Just a quick, simple, update. I added 36 stems of rotala indica, did a complete re-scape, and trimmed a lot of plants down that were really tall. I like the layout more like it is now and all the plants get adequate lighting again. I should be getting my dry fertilizers tomorrow so I can dose everything the plants need. I am open to opinions as always .

 

It turned out great! I like tanks built up on the sides like that, also your shelf is coming along nicely.
I never would've guessed you were hurried into it by ram aggression, very squared away imo.

The only thing I can think of is maybe a small cave or short structure of some sort in the center to provide another hiding hole and break things up a bit for the rams.

 

It turned out great! I like tanks built up on the sides like that, also your shelf is coming along nicely.
I never would've guessed you were hurried into it by ram aggression, very squared away imo.

The only thing I can think of is maybe a small cave or short structure of some sort in the center to provide another hiding hole and break things up a bit for the rams.

Thanks! I am actually surprised at how well the shelf is filling in. Haha, even when I am stressed I still prefer to try and do things right.

I will have to see if I can find something that can break up the middle section, thanks for the input. Hopefully I have something laying around that I can use. Too bad I couldn't wave a magic wand and make my swords grow instantly. Then again a fully grow sword would probably take over the whole tank lol.

 

Well, by the end result you can see you took your time, I love uncluttered clean tanks. Sometimes I see a beautiful sword plant in an aquarium and I'm thinking "That plant is truly stunning and huge but your fishes face is pressed against the glass"

 

That made my evening. I got a cartoonish in my mind from that of some fish with its cheek (even though they don't have cheeks) smashed against the glass trying to escape. The same thing comes to mind when I see crinum in someones large tank. It is like giant green threads taking over the tank.

Despite the chaos in my mind at that time, it was calming to reorganize the tank again. I completely agree, the disorganized look in the tank was bothering me a bit.

 

Just when I thought I was done with adding plants I found something else . I bought about 30 more stems of rotala indica upping the count to around 66 stems. Today I came across an unknown plant tat was labeled as "tank raised bunch plant"; really detailed isn't it lol. I got it identified as ludwigia repens x L. arcuata, and I have around 15 stems not counting the branches. I also added one of my emersed grown crypt wendtiI "green" to see how it will do, and so far so good. Unfortunately my indian red sword encountered some sort of problem and every bit of it died down to the roots.

I started EI dosing without dosing KNO3 at the moment since my root tabs seem to keep the nitrates between 5-10 ppm. I am also slowly increasing the CO2 to a more optimum level for the fish and plants. The new organization of the tank works out much better overall, especially for the kuhlis. My striped ones were the shy ones of the bunch and now the swim circles on the glass with the black kuhlis, so that makes me happy. Anyway, until my new 29 gallon is set up, I am done adding plants (I know I have told myself that before). Plus, I can't really fit anything else in lol.

 

Wow that really filled it out! I take back my recommendation for something in the center, no room now lol. That's a really good photo of the kuhli, looks like its out of a magazine or something.

 

I do like how well it filled it in since it allowed me to achieve the layout I was looking for on this tank. I tried placing the new stems in the center, but it just looked really disorganized again and made the tank look small (if that makes sense). I'm not going to try another ram until the new tank is running where I will have more room to break up the center, so your idea is still going to be used .

Thanks, that was the brief second that the kuhlI stopped swimming around and actually gave me a chance to get an awesome picture (I realize that sounds conceded, but I am really happy to have the picture). As for breaking up the center in the new tank I have a japanese maple.

I still need to sandblast and soak this, but the tree has been dead for a year now. Now how can I fit this whole thing in the tank lol.

 

Beautiful tanks! You're doing a fantastic job with them

 

I could see how the stems in the middle wouldn't work out well, makes sense it'd look smaller.

Yeah, those pictures when they look like they're posing are few and far between, you should be proud of it, its a good shot.

OMG! The things you could do with that tree!!!! I would've killed for that when I was making my "tree". I absolutely cannot wait to see what it ends up like.

 

Beautiful tanks! You're doing a fantastic job with them

Thanks!

I could see how the stems in the middle wouldn't work out well, makes sense it'd look smaller.

Yeah, those pictures when they look like they're posing are few and far between, you should be proud of it, its a good shot.

OMG! The things you could do with that tree!!!! I would've killed for that when I was making my "tree". I absolutely cannot wait to see what it ends up like.

I know, my imagination has been running wild with that tree , but I think it will have to remain small. The leading thought is a fissidens fontanus tree. Just need to figure out what to do with the rest of it.

 

I've never seen that moss but by the looks of it it would make a good tree, have you tried sourcing it yet?

 

I have found it in very small portions on aquabid and ebay, but it is pricey. I hope to find someone selling trimmings in larger portions at some point. The leaf structure of the fissidens would give it that tree-esque look. I think it would be neat to have something like a bonsaI tree, just under water.



Forgot to mention something earlier, I will be getting two different types of java fern in the mail soon, so expect the 10 gallon to undergo a change. I have to have a place for the outlet of my plant addiction .

 

Yeah, not all will work as well depending on the leaf structure, that's why for mine I had to order the xmas moss from Malaysia, no one around here had it but I knew that was the look I wanted. Underwater BonsaI trees are cool, especially if you get a little lawn of trimmed hairgrass underneath it.

 

Great new photos, thank you. And that shot of your kuhlI looks like a winner (hint, hint!)

 

Yeah, not all will work as well depending on the leaf structure, that's why for mine I had to order the xmas moss from Malaysia, no one around here had it but I knew that was the look I wanted. Underwater BonsaI trees are cool, especially if you get a little lawn of trimmed hairgrass underneath it.

Xmas moss is really nice looking. The way it turns up would look nice for many uses. I've killed every bonsaI tree I have tried in terrestrial for, so maybe an aquatic one will work for me lol. I like the idea of having hairgrass underneath though, I think I just need to get a 200 gallon tank to work with .

Great new photos, thank you. And that shot of your kuhlI looks like a winner (hint, hint!)

Thanks, lol maybe I will try with that picture next month .

 

Donnerjay has a point! The gift certificate is practically yours.

I've never tried a terrestrial bonsai, I used to work with a guy who did them, it was funny, he would spend most of his time trying to convince all the guys in the shop of how masculine a hobby it was, you can imagine, in a pumbing shop full of 20-30 year old blue collar guys it wasn't working. Don't take that the wrong way! Personally I don't judge, I would just mess with him because he was sensitive about it.

In a perfect world we'd all have 200 gallon tanks! I would do a transition of landscapes with that much room, kind of like my 55 but way cooler.

 

Not taking it the wrong way, after 4 years of having worked in a dealership as a mechanic and the two years before that with school, I know what it is like. I am pretty sure everything could be turned into a joke, and if it got a rise out of someone there was a free for all lol. Everyone learned to take it as a joke and it was all in good fun . For me bonsaI was just a way to continue something that my grandfather really liked to do, but I failed at it .

I like the idea of a perfect world. Seems like many wouldn't know what to do with that much space, myself included, since there are so many options. If I were rich I would have bought the 10 foot long 400 gallon acrylic tank I found in Chicago. The guy was only selling it because he wanted a bigger tank. I'm pretty sure he had more money in discus than I have in all my tanks and supplies.

 

I seem to be updating this a lot, but I changed the 10 and 29 gallon again. I got my needle leaf and Philippine java ferns in the mail today, and I got more than I know what to do with. So, I am looking for opinions as to what I should do with it in both my 10 and 29 gallon. There are roughly 20 rhizomes of java ferns of all sizes that are scattered between both tanks. I have been toying with the idea of tearing down my 10 gallon and changing the substrate to fluval stratum since I am really beginning to hate gravel. Only downside is I don't want to have it torn down for long, so it would need to be a one day job.

Any other opinions or suggestions for what I could do are welcomed. I would like to redo the 10 gallon and build my other 29 over winter break.

Sorry about the bad photos, I have realized it is really hard to get pictures of a blackwater aquarium.
I thought this was interesting to see, proof that it used to be brighter. This is what the 29 gallon aquarium looked like after I set it up when I brought it home from another house where I bought it stocked.

 

Your tanks are amazing. I LOVE the hex. To me, it is perfectly planted. I'm not such a fan of the "wild and overrun" heavily planted look, which is more present in the divided 10g. I bet it works well there though, as the bettas probably can't see each other as well through the heavy plants. That angelfish is stunning. How big is he?

 

Thanks . The 10 gallon is a work in progress because I can't stand the chaos in it. I just got all the java ferns and couldn't get one of them to stay down in the gravel. It will probably be torn down and switched to dirt very soon since my focus is finally away from my 20 gallon. Both bettas do like laying on all the plants and swimming through them. I catch them sleeping at the top of wisteria every night. I'm still surprised that they aren't bother by one another anymore.

The hex is probably going to stay the way it is now, except I may add some rocks to tie the java ferns to. My angelfish is about the size of a half dollar in the body alone, but I don't really know overall. He is one of my favorite fish with tons of personality.

I hope you found some ideas for a possible second attempt at this with your tank.

 

I love the 29g, having some floating plants at the top is nice, it defines the space imo. I also like the stock in it, nice calm lightly stocked tank.

My angels are crazy friendly too, I'm pretty sure I could just pick them up if I wanted. lol.
I can totally see why you want to tear down the 10g, that much foliage would drive me crazy! Though I can see bettas enjoying it, I'm not sure on the power of the 10 gallon lighting fixture but I think adding any plants with a color other than green and a little trimming would change the whole look imo.

 

I agree with Matt B on the 29, I'm adding floating to my column for that same reason after being inspired by it.

The 20 keeps on getting better and better.

 

Beautiful tanks!! I had read up on black water tanks and wondered how they would look as a tank. Thanks for showing it! I probably won't do it, but the effect looks quite soothing. Love the betta tank! such an awesome jungle they have!!

 

I love the 29g, having some floating plants at the top is nice, it defines the space imo. I also like the stock in it, nice calm lightly stocked tank.

My angels are crazy friendly too, I'm pretty sure I could just pick them up if I wanted. lol.
I can totally see why you want to tear down the 10g, that much foliage would drive me crazy! Though I can see bettas enjoying it, I'm not sure on the power of the 10 gallon lighting fixture but I think adding any plants with a color other than green and a little trimming would change the whole look imo.

Having the floating plants is really nice to fill in the top some, but I am pretty sure that stuff grows at night even. I am starting to see what you mean with having hornwort . The light stock is nice, but it would be nice to add some sort of bottom feeder. I haven't had measurable nitrates in the tank for about 5 weeks now, and it isn't from a lost cycle.

Haha, I am really beginning to understand other reasons why people like angels. The 10 gallon is lit with two spiral compact fluorescent bulbs, so not much light. I have some emersed plants that may work in it to add some color. Something has to happen with the 10 gallon one way or another .

I agree with Matt B on the 29, I'm adding floating to my column for that same reason after being inspired by it.

The 20 keeps on getting better and better.

Thanks, do you have any pictures of the tank? I'd like to see if I can find some more ideas for mine.

Beautiful tanks!! I had read up on black water tanks and wondered how they would look as a tank. Thanks for showing it! I probably won't do it, but the effect looks quite soothing. Love the betta tank! such an awesome jungle they have!!

Thanks! Blackwater is the way to go with softwater fish, you should try it someday . Gotta thank RogueAgent for getting the blackwater idea in my mind. The betta's love the jungle, but it drives me nuts seing the disorganization in it every time I go by it lol.

 

Haha! I recently removed a bunch from a 17-18" tall tank and just left a few 3" stalk in, it took it about 2-3 days to reach the surface! At least since you have it floating, removing some isn't too bad, mine is all stuck in the substrate so I pull it up, cut off the bottom and replant it to trim.

I'd say bio-load wise you are in good shape for some cories (obviously,lol) I'm just not sure on the foot print of that tank and the area it would provide for them considering they pretty much won't use the vertical space.

I feel the same as you about the 10g, somethings gotta happen, maybe even just thinning it a bit to let the color of the substrate and what I think are rocks come out a bit. Might set off the green enough to make it look less "overgrown" for lack of a better word.

 

Wow it sounds like yours grows a lot faster than mine. I just keep flipping the runners over onto the bunch so it doesn't block out the light completely. I originally wanted to anchor some of it to the bottom, but after reading that I think it will stay floating.

Each panel is 18" apart, so I don't know if the footprint is too small for cories that get to 3" or so. My thoughts were pygmaeus cories or corydoras hastatus which both stay fairly small. Then, the angel worries me with something that small lol. Any thoughts on those or something else I could add? Someday the rasboras will be moved into this tank and move the neons, but I need to be sure there isn't any fungus in the 20 gallon.

Winter break is coming up soon, so I have a few projects planned and the 10 gallon is on that list lol. I am thinking most, or all, of the wisteria is going to move to my refugium to grow however it wants. Overgrown describes it perfectly , I really wasn't expecting so many java ferns, but I can't complain since they were free.

 

I understand your decision to keep it floating, it got to be too much work to control it in the 55 gallon with t5ho so now its only in my 15 with 20w of cfl. An alternative if you wanted to try it anchored to the bottom would be plant weights, easy enough to just fish the whole stalk up and trim it and lower back down.

After crunching some numbers I think you'd be okay with a school of 6 cories, they don't have to be dwarf imo, I'd probably exclude aeneus just because they're built like tanks, but maybe some Sterbai?
They're my favorite cories.

True, you can't get upset with getting a bunch of free plants! You've just got more options now to use to get it how you want it.

 

I can understand why it got out of control in the 55 with T5HO, probably perfect conditions for it. Hmm...I have a bunch of those plant anchors laying around, so I may have to give it a shot. It'd probably be easier to let it grow one long piece. So, maybe it could go a few days without trimming lol.

The dwarf species were what came to mind because I wasn't sure if there was enough room on the bottom. I have to say, sterbaI cories look amazing, and that answers my question of what the cory is in your avatar picture lol. I'll have to add some rock cover on the bottom for them, and see what I can find locally. Thanks!

 

I found if I trimmed it it would grow out three new stalks where I trimmed it and was just well, ugly. If you do the trim from the bottom method you end up with all nice straight, single stalks.

Yeah, at first I wasn't really sure how many square inches that tank had but I figure its right up there with a 20gl so you should be fine. I just love the Sterbais! They're set apart from the majority of other cories that all look more or less the same to me. lol. I've found them to be a little pricey locally but I got a bunch of half wild ones from Rogue awhile back and they're all doing great. It may be worth a pm.
Mine really appreciate caves too, when the food starts falling from the sky its really funny watching them all file out from their hillside cave, its like a clown car or something.